Big-Buck Hunter Larry Benoit Dies in Vermont

Renowned hunter and expert tracker Larry Benoit, who was prolific in publishing books, videos and seminars, died last Tuesday in his home in Duxbury, Vt., at the age of 89. The cause of death is unknown, but his son Shane said his health had been declining.

His family estimated that Benoit shot at least 200 bucks, many weighing more than 200 pounds. A local photographer and author helped Benoit write his first book, "How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life," which was published in 1975, bringing Benoit's celebrity hunter status to a national level. Benoit and some of his sons gave hunting seminars across the country for years sharing their knowledge of the lost art of tracking, which is what they claimed as the key to hunting success.

Larry Benoit was born in East Berkshire in 1924, not far from the Canadian border. When not hunting, he worked in construction, which frequently ensured Novembers were free to hunt.